Human Resources Legislative Update
Proposed Legislation to Ensure International Travellers Will Not Be Eligible for Recovery Benefits During Mandatory Quarantine Period
Date: January 11, 2021
On January 11, 2021, the federal government announced that it will be proposing legislation to ensure international travellers returning to Canada will not be eligible to receive any of the recovery benefits – the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) – for their mandatory 14-day quarantine or self-isolation period.
The government states that the proposed legislation, which will be retroactive to January 3, 2021, is aimed at ensuring Canadians continue to follow public health advice against travelling abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals who are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements under the Quarantine Act, such as healthcare workers who need to cross the border for work, will be eligible to apply for recovery benefits upon their return to Canada.
As a result of this announcement, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will update the application process for CRB, CRCB and CRSB. Starting on January 11, 2021, for claims covering a period beginning on or after January 3, 2021, applicants will be required to indicate whether they are self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel and the CRA will delay processing their claims.
We will continue to monitor the progress of this legislative initiative.
Should you have questions or require further information, please contact a member of our Pension, Benefits and Executive Compensation Group.
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